Container and picture holder



May26,1942. E. ANDEfiSQN I 2,284,355

7 CONTAINER AND PICTURE' HOLDER Filed. Nov. 8.,

INVENTOR Patented May 26, 1942 l a CONTAINER AND PICTURE HOLDER Eric Anderson, Providence, R. I., assignor to Superb Case Mfg. 00., Providence, It. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 8, 1940, Serial No. 364,831

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to cigarette cases, vanity cases and the like, and has particular reference to a novel construction of cover therefor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a case or container in which the inside of the cover portion forms a combination mirror and retainer for photographs or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container of the type specified, which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container in which the inside cover portion provides a combination mirror and photograph or other article holder which is open to view upon the opening of the container.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following and more particularly defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my invention, in open position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock frame;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the combinedmirror and photograph retainer;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 on Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the transparent covers; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the lock arrangement.

Cigarette cases, powder compacts, vanity cases and the like are often provided with mirrors on the inside of the cover portion for the convenience of the user. Thepresent invention is designed to provide a cover construction for this type of container which includes a provision for retaining photographs or other indicia without impairing the utility of the mirror. For the purposes of illustration only, the present invention is shown and described as embodied in a cigarette case. However, the invention may readily be applied to compacts, vanity cases, and similar containers.

Referring more in detail to the drawing embodying my invention, the container I includes a base If and a cover l2 hinged thereto as at [3. The hinging I 3 may be of the conventional spring type for opening the cover portion when the latch M in the base H is depressed. As shown in Fig. 1, the base ll holds cigarettes which are retained in the case by the spring-pressed arm IS in the conventional manner.

The inside of the cover I2 is provided with a combined mirror and retainer member I! illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, The member I'l.is preferably of an integral construction andstamped from sheet stock. the visible surface being highly polished. Any mirror-surfaced metal may be used, such as Monel metal, which will give a highly polished reflecting surface. The member I! is of the same shape as the cover I2 (rectangularly shown) and is provided at its lower portion with one or more pockets or retainer portions I8 which may be stamped therefrom in any desired shape. The pockets l8 are preferably stamped from the surface of the member l'i so as to provide front wall portions l9 which extend laterally from the surface of the member I! in a V shape. the upper edge 20 forming a comparatively wide opening and the side walls of the pocket tapering downwardly towards the lower end 2| until the front surface merges with the surface of the member H. The front of the portion l8 may be cut out, as at 22, so that the article in the pocket may be visible, and the member I! may be cut away, as at 23, adjacent the upper end 20 of the pocket so that a finger can be inserted to remove any article from the pocket. A transparent window insert 24, illustrated in Fig. 5, may be slipped into the pocket portion 3 so that the photograph or other item interposed in the pocket may be separated from the contentsof the container and be prevented from becoming soiled or discolored.

The member I! is locked in the cover portion l2 by a lock frame 25, illustrated in Fi 2. The

lock frame 25 comprises a narrow integral rectangular frame portion adapted to snugly fit the interior of the cover [2 and provided with an integral upstanding flange 26 around the outer edges thereof. The sides of the cover portion 12 are provided with a plurality of detents 21, see Fig. 6, spaced from the inside cover surface and having generally rounded upper portions and flat lock shoulders on the underside thereof.

In assembling, the member I! is positioned in the cover 12, as shown in Fig. l, and the lock frame 25 is pushed down over it into the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the flange 26 snapping under the detents 21 and securely locking both the lock member 25 and member I! to'the cover. The use of the flange 26 on the frame 25 permits a minimum number of detents 21 to be used, it being preferred to utilize two at each corner of the cover, and gives the frame rigidity. This provides a firm locking and prevents rattling or sliding of the parts.

The above-described construction thus provides a container for cigarette cases, vanity cases, and similar articles in which the inside cover is provided with a mirror and pocket portion in which photographs, social security numbers or the ilke may be easily inserted and retained in a clearly visible position. In view of the tapered form of the pocket I8, the photograph or other indicia slips into the pocket between the under surface of the cover and the window member. 24 becomes wedged into the lower end 2| of the pocket bea tween the member I! and the underside of the cover, so that it will not slide from the. pocket nor become displaced in any position of .the container and can only be removed by apositive manual action. The pocket is thus sell locking and retains insertions therein without the use of additional locking devices.

While I have described a constructional inbodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes may be made in the size and shape of the parts, in the number .of pockets used, in their relative shape, and in the size and arrangement of. the mirror member, Without departing from the spirit and the. scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. v i

' plate having a mirror surface on at least one sdie and an integral pocket portion extending outwardly from said mirror surface in a V shape. 3. A container comprising a base, a cover lhingedlyconnected to said base, and a mirror and retainer member' locked to the inside of said cover, said member comprising a. sheet meta1 plate having a mirror surface on at least one side and an integral pocket portion extending outwardly from said mirror surface, the front of said pocketportion having an opening.

ERIC ANDERSON. 

